Under the leadership of John Luraas, forty pioneers came to Muskego
Lake from Norway in 1839, to found one of the most important settlements in
Norwegian-American history. After temporary set-backs, the Settlement
flourished here through the leadership of Even Heg, Johannes Johanassen, Soren
Bache, Elling Eilsen, James Reymert and Claus Clausen, who sent glowing reports
to Norway and encouraged a large movement to this country.
This settlement gave rise to the first Norwegian Lutheran congregation
organized in America (1843) and published the first Norwegian-American
newspaper. Old Muskego became well known as a mother colony to other
settlements, schools and churches springing up on the new frontier. Countless
wagonloads of newcomers stopped here before continuing west.
Nearby Heg Park commemorates Colonel Hans C. Heg, one of Wisconsin’s
Civil War heroes.